Electric signal apparatus.



No. 814,535. PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

v L. GRIFFITH. ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\ g R\ w fmw m PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906. L. GRIFFITH. ELECTRIC SIGNALAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 28, 1904..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N M N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed October 23.1904. Serial No. 230.360.

To aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LAWRENCE GRIFFITH, acitizen of the United States of America, residing in the. city ofYonkers, county of VVestchester, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Im rovements in Electric Signal Apparatus, 0which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to electric apparatus forrailway-traffic-controlling devices, and is shown and described asapplied to a semaphore. Its objects are to provide ap aratus of thecharacter shown in my Unite States Letters Patent No. 776,238 and mypending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No.1-51,578, filed April 8, 1903, with additional features and adaptations.

In order that In invention may be clearly understood, I shall firstdescribe in detail the mode in which I car the same into practice andthen point out the novel features of the invention in the claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawin s, forming part of thespecification, in whic similar parts are designated by like charactersin both views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of the in vention as applied toarailway-semaphore, and Fi 2 is a similar view showing two additionacontrolling devices for the ope'rators bar or lever.

12 is the operators bar or lever in the tower, and 13' thesemaphore-blade. The

semaphore-blade is normally held at danger b the counterweight 14 and isturned to sa ety by the upward movement of the rod 15. Said rod isactuated by electric mo tor 16. As the motor need move the rod 15 inonly one direction, a single-wound motor may be us'ed'instead of thedouble-wound motor shown in my said two pending applications. It will beunderstood that suitable devices known to the art areemployed forconnectin the motor with rod 15 and for holdin t e semaphore-blade atsafety electrical connection in the tower. 1

The operators bar 12 may have ordinary tappet-s 0t 42, which co6perateswith a roller 43, attached to the tap et 44, working in the ordinaryinterlockin oard. Another slot in the bar has the inc ined portion 45and the horizontal portion 46. Inthis slot isa roller 47, connectedbrod.48 with the armature of indicating-so enoid 49 or her electricunit. F astened to the frame which supports the bar 12 and insulatedtherefrom are four pairs of contact-springs, as follows: 50 and 51, 52and 53, 54 and 55, 56 and 57. Fast'ened to and cooperating with the bar12 is the rod 61. Bridge 63 is securely fastened to rod 61- and moveswith it. Bridge 62 is loosely attached to rod 61 and is moved by thestops 64 and 65, coming in contact with it.

Motor 16 is operatively connected with rod 15, so as to raise said rodas said motor re volves. Attachedto and cooperating with said rod 15 aretwo bridges 66 and 67, bridge 66 being adapted to make and break thecircuit between the contact-springs 68 and 69 and bridge 67-beingadapted to make and break the circuit between the contact-springs and71. I

It will be understood that means well known to the art are employed tomaintain the rod 15 in its elevated position, and therefore thesemaphore-blade 13 at safety, until the operator breaks the electricconnection holding said rod and semaphore-blade in the position orotherwise releases them.

From any suitable source 72 of electric energy, which may be a'priinarybattery, a storage battery, or a dynamo, a positive common wire 1connects with contact-spring 52.

From contact-spring 53, which is the mate of .63 is moved into contactwithsprings 52 and 53 (bridge 62 being at the same time moved by stop 64into contact with springs 50 and 51) motor 16 will beenergi-zed to moverod 15 upward, and therefore the semaphore-blade 13 to safety. At thesame time bridge 67 will be moved from between contact-springs 70 and 71and bridge 66 from between contact-springs 68 and 69; At this timeroller 47 has been moved to the'right-hand end of the horizontal portion46 of the slot 45 46'. In returning the semaphore-blade 13 to dangerposition the operator moves bar 12 until the roller 47 meets the otherend of the horizontal portion of the slot 45 46 and by doing so breaksthe electric connection, whereby the semaphore-blade 13 is held atsafety, and releases the semaphore-blade 13 and allows its counterweight14 to carry the same to danger and in doing so make connection by brid e67 between contact-springs 70 and 71 and y bridge 66 betweencontact-springs 63 I and 69. At the same time bridge 63 is reof themagnet or solenoid 49 is attracted and therod 48 raised, carrying withit roller 47, which, cooperatingwith the'inclined lpart 45 of the slot45 46 moves the bar 12 ack to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1,and

breaking the connection between contact-- springs 50 and 51, as the stopmoves the bridge 62 out of position between said contact-springs, thusautomatically cutting off the source 72 of electric energy from themdication apparatus as the indicator operates to indicate. The action ofthe electric unit 49 is of coursean indication to the operator that thesemaphore-blade has been returned to danger. Bridge 63 makes contactbetween springs 54 and 55 immediately upon its breaking contact betweensprings 52 and 53, so that should there be any accidental return tobattery in the circuit of solenoid 49 while bridge 67 is .out of contactbetween-springs 70 and 71 said solenoid 49 will be energized and roller47 will be forced a ainst shoulder 85 of horizontal portion 46 of s 0t45 46, thereby preventing the operator .from further moving bar 12 untilthe defect has been remedied.

t is very important that the indicatingsolenoid be not allowed to actshould there be a foreign or accidental current in the circuit connectedwith the motor 16.. I therefore provide a safety-magnet or electric unit60, which when, energized is adapted to break connection between wires 9and 10, or said safety-magnet may be adapted to lock and Said safet-magnet is con-' unlock bar 12. nected in parallel with sai circuit bywires 17 and 18, and it will be understood thatthe circuit through saidsafety-magnet is made and broken by bridge 63 006 crating withcontact-springs 52 and 53in t e same manner as the motor-circuit. Thesafety-magnet 60 is energized whenever current is on the circuit ofmotor 16, so that always when current is supplied to the motor 16 thecircuit of the solenold 49 isbroken. When the circuit of motor .16 isbroken and the apparatus is therefore iready to indicate, the magnet 60being deenergized will allow connection to be made through the solenoid49, so as to allow it-sa'id solenoid 49-to operate as an indicator. Thebridge 63, cooperating with'contactsprings 56 and 57 and wires 73 and 2,provide a path back to the battery if there should be anyaccidental-current or cross on the circuit of the motor 16 when theparts are in normal position, as shown in Fi 1.

X and Y are fuses, an Z a cut-out box' for breaking the circuit by anexcess of electric energy.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there are; two additional devices either oneof.which,or both may be used with those shown in Fig. 1 and abovedescribed. I first will describe What I call the actnating-solenoi orelectric unit and then the locking-solenoid or electric unit. Bar 12 isprovided with v aslot 75 7,6, and'cooperating with said slot-is roller77, connected by rod 78 with armature of actuating-solenoid 79. Theframe su orting the bar 12 has fastened to it in ad d ition to thoseshown in Fig. 1 contact-springs 58* and 59. Rails 34 and 37 areinsulated by joints40 from the rest of the track and are connected bywires 38 with battery or source of electric-energy C. The wheels 41 of atrainwhen between the insulated joints 40 are adapted to short-circuitbattery 0, thus deenergizin'g magnet 39. The deenergizing of .magnet '39will in the ordinary way make connection between wires30 and 32, therebyactuating solenoid 79, which 'will be .energized as follows: Bar. 12 hasbeen pulled by the operator and the semaphore-blade thrown to safety, asabove described, and bridge 74 makes connection between contacts rin s58 and 59". ow rom battery B, through wires 29 30, contact-springs 58and 59*, bridge 74, wire 31-, solenoid 79, and wire 32 to battery BIThereby armature of solenoid is operated to. raise rod 78, carrying withit roller 77 which Therefore current will cooperates with the inclinedpart 76 of slot 75 76, moves the bar 12 back to the ositio'n in which itwill return the signal to anger and fromwhich it will be thrown to itsfull normal position by the indicating electric unit 49, asabove'described.

It is sometimes advantageous to provide means whereby bar12 may belocked in normal' position until released by apparatus which may beunder control of a separate or distant operator. Tothis end I providethe "locking-solenoidor electric unitSO. Bar 12 is provided with a slot81 82, and coeperating with said slot is'roller 83, connected by rod 84with armature-of locking-solenoid 80.

Battery. or' source of electric energy A is in circuit withmagnet 27'through 'wires 23, '24, and 26, said circuit being adapted to be made orbroken by switch or bar 25. 'Battery or source of electric energy D isin circuit with locking-solenoid 80 as follows 2 wires 19, 20, and 21,solenoid 80, and wire 22.: "It will be understood that when switch or.bar 25 is operated to energize magnet 27 connection w1ll be made betweenwires 19 and 20, and thereby the solenoid 80 energized, raising roller83 in the vertical portion81 of slot 81 82, and-13.0

te'rs Patent,

' has been moved by said preventing the action of the indicator whileindependent of the operator tus for locking and unlocking the same.

6. In electric signal apparatus for railways comprising an electricindicator, automatic means for cutting off the source of electric en.-ergy from the indicator as the indicator opthereby releasing orunlocking bar 12, so I of said apparathat it may be moved by itsoperator. It will be understood that by proper wiring batteries A, B,and D may be dispensed with and electric energy obtained from a commonsource 72.

The operators bar 12, with its rod 61 and bridges and contact-springs,constitute an electric switch or circuitcontroller. The of meanscontrolled by a moving train for rebridge 63 is idle with reference tothe pair of turning the signal to normal position after it contact-srings'54 as it moves in one dih rection, ut is operative 'with"reference to said pair of contact-springs as it moves in the reversedirection.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- 1. In electric signalapparatus ,for railways comprising an electric indicator and an electricmotor or unit for moving the signal, electric means separate from theindicator for unit for moving the signal, the combination saidapparatus1n operative position for said ergy supplied to sald motor, withelectricallycontrol ed means independent of the operator of saidapparatus for locking and unlocking the same.

there is electric energy supplied to said ,motor'.

2. In electric signal ap comprising an electric in tric motor or unitfor means for preventing the action of the indic'ator while there iselectric energysup lied .to said motor which consists of a rela adaptedto break the electric'connection oi said'indicator at said times.

3. In electric signal aratiis for railways icator and an elecsaidindicator, with means for shunting cur rent on the circuit of said motorto battery when the apparatus is at normal position.

8. Inelectricsignal apparatus for railways signal, means controlled by amoving train for returning the signal to normal position after it hasbeen signal, by a moving train for rey .turmng the signal to normalposition after it said motor and for setting 831d apparatus in has beenmoved by said motor and for setoperative position forsaid indicator; tinsaid apparatus inoperative position for In electric signal apparatus forrailways said indicator, with means comprising an electric indicator,automatic the-action of the indicator while there'is. elecsuppliedtoisaid motor, and means means for cutting off the source of electrictric energy for shunting current on the circuit of said motor to batterywhen theapparatus is at nor- 9. In electric signal apparatus forrailways comprising an electric indicator, automatic source of electricenmeans for cutti off the ergy from the in icator as the indicatoroperates to indicate, and

for moving the signal, the combination of reventing the .ere is electricsaid apparatus 1n operative position for indicator, withelectrically-controlled means inde endent of the operator of saidapparatus ibr locking and unlocking the same, and'means for shuntingcurrent on the circuit of said motor to the battery when the apparatusis at normal position.

10. In electric signal apparatus for railways comprising an electricindicator, auto unit for moving the signal, the combination of meanscontrolled by a moving train for returning the signal to normal positionafter it motor and for settin said apparatus in operative position forsai indicator, with electrically-controlled means as been moved by saidmotor and for setting for preventing an electric motor or unit 'IIO toroperates to indicate, and an electric motor or unit for moving thesignal, the comb nation of means controlledbya moving train forreturning the signal to normal position after it has been moved by saidmotor and for setting said apparatus in operative'position for saidindicator, with means for preventing the action of the indicator whilethere is electric energy sup )lied to said motor, withelectrically-controlled means independent of the operator of saidapparatus for locking and unlocking the same, and means for shuntingcurrent on the circuitof said motor to battery when the apparatus is atnormal position.

11. In an electric switch or circuit controller the combination of threepairs of stationary contact-points with a movable bridge orcircuit-maker adapted to make a closed circuit with two of said pairs ofpoints, one upon each limit of its stroke, and to make a closed circuitwith the other of said pairs of points upon its movement in onedirection and not in the other direction.

12. In an electric switch or circuit controller the combination of twopairs of stationary contact-points with a movable bridge orcircuit-maker adapted to make a closed circuit with one of said pairs ofpoints upon the limit of its stroke in one direction and to make aclosed circuit with the other of said pairs of points upon its movementin one direction and not in the other direction. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this-27th day ofOctober, 1904.

LAW. GRIFFITH.

In presence oi"'- C. W. WESTON, Jr.. 1-1. V. N. PHILIP.

